Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-31
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
TIE SENATE q KrLEs THE xARTLN
CONTENTION ALL
en@g0r Crossmu Asesifnsss, zsut
Afterwards Fseeeras sais NaW. i'm
Favor os She hstss = Osnsr L.'s ie'a-
Ifve wO.k.


days session was of course the dnal CON
sideration by the Senate OF the Martin
convention bill, continued from yesterday
and made the special or1or for this after
noon.
The contest was reopened by Hli-
clustering motion, br MI. Ferguson
seconded by DR.. Lewis, for further
poatponement until tomorrow afternoon.
DR.. Martin objected. He proposed to
take vote to-day. The senators were as
we'll prepared to vote on this bill as they
ever would be.
Mr.. Ferguson's motion was defeated by
tie vote, as follows:
Ayes-Dorman, Ferguson, Lewis, the
speaker.
Noes Cooper, crossAn, Martin, Nc
Whorter.
Absent Bacon. A
AS test OF strength on the bIartin
bill this vote proved de.i;sivs in so far as
IL seemed to indicate that Ar. Cooper had
changed his mind since yesterday and
might support the bill But it attled
one uncertain quantity, Mr.. Dorman, who
had locked his mouth SO tight that no one
felt safe in labelling him either as friend
or an enemy of convention. His vote
labeled him TO the entire satisfaction of
everybody.
DR.. Martin then moved that the hill be
read by paragraphs, (the usual step
towards Hnal action), which was agreed
to without division. The general expec-
tation was that 1t would be defeated by
the same tie vote which defeated the post
ponement motion.
Mr.. McWhorter arose TO deliver the
| funeral oration. He felt that the time
for discussion had gone by, but he had
duty to discharge to the people of his
county and his State. He desired then to
know the position he occupied and why
he voted for this measure, and then let
the responsibility rest where 1t belongs.
He would not impugn the motives Of any
member, but he could not see how any
one could conceive any other bill can
possibly become operative. He did not
wish to be understood, however, as say
ing that he would vote for no other bill.
He would admit that there was differ
snce of opinion regarding the election
| contemplated in this bill being q special
Il election /; he could conscientiously say
he had no doubt on the subject. Defeat
this bill and we will 60 home having
violated every pledge made to the people
This is just as clear as the MONDAY
sun. Every vote cast in 1884 and 1886 Is
| matter of record against constitutional
convention. Il is not question of q
majority Of the votes cast. To hold this
| election in an off year looks like subter-
fuge. We propose TO let this bill stand
| on its merits to-day. II the Martin bill
were lost he would, however, advocate
the House bill as the best thing left totry.
To turn down general election day is
| an attempt to bind the arms of the
/ American freemen, and the chains have
never been forged that will bind free
man in this State. They have always
found way to get out of difficulties, and
there is today way being found to get
ont of this.
''If the wishea of the county / repre-
sent are to be no longer respected, con-
tinued the speaker, There will come n
time when she will take the power into
her own hands. And she has the power
to do It," he added significantly. Some
had told him that, possibly, as a compro-
mise, they would not object to New
Castle having one more member in the
House. In reply he would call attention
to few figures taken frcm the census of
1880.
In 1880 New Castle county had s, 1924
more inhabitants than the other two coun-
ties combined. It may be objected that this
simply means densely populated city
and that Kent and Sussex nre strong in
agricultural interests; very we'll. The
value of New Castles farming land in
1880 was $1s 757, 1868, agaiust Kent g
$10,068, 900 and Sussex's 7,963. 900,
leaving New Castles farms $728, 900
more in value than those of both the
other counties combined. 1t may be said
that this only means that New Castle
lands are higher in price. Very we'll LET
us look at their products. The value of
the farm products of New Castle in 1880
was $52I 600 in excess Of Kent and
$943,0 in excess of SUSSEX Shall we
take the manufacturing interests? New
Castle foots up $l4, 144 ,68S, against
$9s2,000 for Kent and $528, 900 fol
Sussex making surplus for New Castle
of $l2, ,634 900 over both. Take the
amount paid out for labor. New Castle
pays out in wages $3, ,457 600 more than
both. Take the value of manufactured
products. New Castle produces $15, ,000,-
900 worth in excess of both the otheE
counties
And yet with this display, you tell us
New Castle has no right to complain
that she should not ask for constitutional
| reforml In the face of two resolutions
passed by successive Democratic conven,
tions exhibiting them) you come here and
say New CASTLE has no right to complain
You pledge yourselves in convention and
offer now an empty promise you know
! you can never fulfil. What must be the
inevitable result Are we dealing with
this subject frankly; as men as business
, men or in way hoping that 1t will fall
Mr.. McWhorter went on to say that ht
was not stickler for general election
day, In itself; it is not the day he would
, prefer; but he was confronted with the
! stern fact that only on that day could the
necessary vote be COTTON ont. II thil
Legislature fails to pass practicable
! convention bill, New CASTLE county viii
i know the reason why, and he believed
/ the death knell of the Democratic part,
| would have been sounded.
DR.. Martin rose for last word. H
! offered what he believed to be an unex
ceptionable bill. He had advocated itl
, passage. In furtherance of that advocacy
he would again move that the bill be reac
a third time by paragraphs in order Il
! pass the Senate, "if 80 it can be.n
I Oleik Moore Iead the first section.
''Shall that be section ~ said Speaker
Collins.
DIR. Martin called for the yeas and nays
The clerk called Senator Oooper's name
That gentleman sat still and said nothing
He called Senator Crossan's name. Still
no response. The vote resulted:
Ayes-Martip, MoWhorter.
Noes-Dorman, Ferguson, Lewis, ant
l Speaker Collins.
Not voting Cooper, Orossan.'
i Absent Bacon, generally regarded al
! hostile to the bilD.
[ About half an hour after the defeat o.
s Mr.. Martins bill MIR. Crossan went TO tn,
= clerks desk and asked to have his yot.
= recorded in favor of the bill Clerl
I. Moore accepted the vote tentatively, bu
y later decided not to record the vote. Mr.
/ Crossan will now have to ask leave of hii
Y fellow-members in open session to get hil
. name recorded, This he is expected to do
About an hour after the Senate hat
= thus buried the Martin bill, Mr.. Jone
), introduced his amendment to the uni
q form ballot law" in the House. II is the
d Martin bill with slight changes ant
o shorn of it's preamble and last section. i
A provides that, at any general election, i
g shall be lawful for such voters as ma,
y choose to do so 20 write or print on thei
y tickets the words "for convention o
''against convention" and directs tn
election officers to count and the board
of canvass to return such votes. II vii
IL then be optional with the Legislature Il
q take such action as the result of the vot
1 may warrant. Mr.. Jones started the bill
q with clever speech in which he tersel
m showed that it WAS O measure any homes
friend of convention, however Borupulou